PWEF Honors Karen Sloan at Spring Gala

Editor's note: This article was written by Lee Anne Timothy and posted by Adina Genn. 

Karen Sloan, Board of Education President and Port Washington cheerleader was honored at the recent Port Washington Education Foundation’s fun and fabulous spring Gala. The room, decorated in festive hot pink and black, was a venerable who’s who of Port Washington with more than 225 friends and supporters in attendance. Included was School Superintendent Dr. Kathy Mooney, Dr. Al Inserra (Superintendent at the time of PWEF’s founding), administrators, teaching staff and PWTA members, elected officials representing all levels of government from national to New York State, Nassau County, North Hempstead and local villages, the PWEF Board of Directors, Port Washington Community Chest, Port Rowing and members of the community. The result, a full house of fans gathered to cheer Mrs. Sloan and the PWEF.

In her remarks, our New York State Assemblywoman Michelle Schimel laughed and asked,  “What is it with you guys in Port and community service? I am always here attending one event or another!” Indeed…

Initiated in 2001, the PWEF has in its relatively short life provided funding for 230 grants that enrich and enhance education in the Port Washington schools. These PWEF-funded projects have power and impact. They present opportunities to open a student’s world, to launch a passion or special interest, to offer experiences that turn ideas into action. Over the past 12 years, the PWEF has awarded grants in all areas of curricular study, serving all Port students from pre-K to 12th grade. That’s a reach of 7,000 students per school year! The long list of PWEF grants have offered students the opportunity to meet Civil Rights icon Ruby Bridges, test their skills in robotics competitions, play the blues with a master bluesman, learn 3-D mapping, plant and tend organic gardens, travel the world and study math and music in new ways using Smart Board technology, DJ on WDOT radio and become camera-ready in the Schreiber TV Studio! Grants submitted for 2013-2014 are being reviewed now. Thanks to the success of this Gala, many grants will be funded!

In her evening remarks, Mrs. Sloan, beaming in pink, shared, “I went to my very first meeting of the PWEF and received a seat at the table with the most amazing group of people – all in one place! There were community members, retired teachers and administrators, current college faculty and past members of the Board of Education. The PWEF asked to honor me this evening but in truth, the honor has been all mine.”

Throughout the evening praise and acknowledgement flowed to Port educators, who come up with “outside of the box” creative grant ideas, to the Port Schools administration for their unwavering support of the PWEF and of course, community members were thanked for their financial support which allows the good work of the PWEF to continue and grow.

"We are so proud of what the PWEF has accomplished to date, " said PWEF President Robin Sigman, “and look forward to committing to many more projects and educational initiatives in the future. We are grateful and indebted to the Port Washington community for its support of the PWEF." 

The Port Washington Education Foundation is an independent, non-profit, community-based organization. The Foundation supports initiatives that enhance and expand educational opportunities over and above basic educational needs for all students in the Port Washington public schools. For more information: www.PWEF.org.